Thursday, November 6, 2008

Who funded Prop. 8?

Where would we be without Focus on the Family, the Mormon church, Catholic knights & bishops, and the Concerned Women for America?

We'd be in a nation where the Equal Rights Amendment was a part of the Constitution, and I'd be living in a state where same-sex couples had the opportunity to marry.

Three decades ago, these groups helped to defeat the ERA. This fall they poured money into passing Proposition 8, California's new constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Thanks a bunch, folks.

Here's what the LA Times reported in a voter guide on Oct. 19 summarizing this fall's propositions and their proponents.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/la-me-stateprops19-2008oct19,0,836059.story?page=1

Chief proponents of Prop. 8: "California Catholic Conference of Bishops, Protect Marriage Coalition, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Concerned Women for America."

Major donors to the Yes side: "Knights of Columbus, Focus on the Family, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

That's why a few hundred people were demonstrating in front of the Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd. this afternoon and evening. They're calling attention to the role of Mormons and others in the outcome of voting on this proposition.

They're asking why the groups supporting this proposition still have tax-exempt status; isn't direct advocacy forbidden to tax-exempt organizations?

This year's vote was 52.5% yes to 47.5 no, closer than the vote on a similar proposition in 2000.

What would it have been without those far-right donors?

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